The Y's Wild Weekend
Emily Zillweger
Event Information
The Y's Wild Weeked
Today the Cherokee Y Teen Leaders Club will show you the fun part of being a Teen Leader. Eleven to Twelve year old children arrive at 10;30 for Team Building games; Teens arrive by 5:30 for the cookout before Guest Speakers.
When?
Saturday, Mar 14, 2015, 10:30 AM
Where?
Cherokee Outdoor Family YMCA- 210 E Bells Ferry Rd. Woodstock, GA 30188
The Schedule
Saturday
10:30 - 12 PM - Team Building Games with 11-12 year olds12 -1 PM - Volunteer Down Time
1- 4 PM - Set Up for Campsite
4 - 6 PM - Teen Arrival/ Kickball Game
6 - 9 PM - Cookout/ Guest Speakers
- Approximately 7 PM - Noah W (President of the Cherokee Y Teen Leaders Club): Talks about the club and leadership
- 8 PM - Jesse T (Senior at Etowah High School and Co-Vice President of Cherokee Y Teen Leaders Club): Talks about HIgh School experience and Peer Pressure
- 8:30 PM- Emily Z (Event host and Co-Vice President of Cherokee Y Teen Leaders Club): Talks about the Cherokee YMCA and the impact of camp on people's lives.
- Animal Cracker Game
- Heads Up!
12 AM - Midnight Hike
Whenever we get back
12:30-1:30 AM - Campfire Chat w/ Smores': Talking about expectations for the future and goals
2 AM - Lights Out
Sunday
8 AM- Wake Up!!
8-9 AM- Breakfast/ Pack Up
9:30 AM - Everybody leaves
Meet The Guest Speakers
Jesse
Jesse's discussion focused on growing up and planning for the future. He made a point to enforce both the positive and negative effects of Peer Pressure for teens.
Noah
As Teen Leaders Club President, Noah discussed the importance of what the teen leaders do for the community. He spoke about the service projects that the club is involved in like Great Lake Alatoona Clean Up. He also touched on important topics of leadership such as communication, and understanding.
Emily
Because she has been a member and volunteer at the Cherokee YMCA for almost 13 years, she was the expert on the camp. She told her personal story, as well as what she has learned over her years at the camp.
The Gallery
The Morning
In the morning we had some team building games with the 11-12 year olds. Here the task is to stand up as a group while holding onto a circular rope. They must accomplish the task without anyone falling or the rope stretching to one side.
After Lunch Down TIme
Here are some of my volunteers (Connor and Alden) playing basketball before we go and set up the campsite at the lake.
The Supplies
My camping supplies filled up one giant bucket.
Our View
This beautiful lake was the backdrop to our site. It would be the fist thing we saw in the morning.
Our Site
Here is most of the camp site; it extended outward on the right more where the hammocks were located.
The Fire
This was our first attempt at fire. We thought we had it, but this one small but important detail would be the most stressful part of the night.
The Fire (30 minutes later)
Still trying.
Jesse
Jesse was so nervous to speak to the teens; he almost forgot what he was going to say.
Jesse Finds the Words
He starts his speech while Tristan is still working on the fire.
Hammock DOWN!
All of us wanted to make a big hammock circle to feel more like a group. Unfortunately, some trees were more spaced out than others. So when we attempt to connect the circle by looping one person's strap through another's, one person ends up to high and I end up on the ground.
FINALLY!
At about 9 PM, after using scrap wood and a blow torch, we finally made a fire.
Dinner Time
For dinner we had an assortment of items to choose from: pizza or hotdogs. Here we see Sam and Landen enjoying the former of the two options.
It's Cooold!
It was so cold during our campfire chat and throughout the night, but we still had a great discussion about the future.
I Get to Share My Story
Because it took us so long to make a fire, I moved my part as a guest speaker to the campfire time. It worked out well. What better time to talk about camp than a campfire? I was extremely grateful to share what the YMCA has done for me and my family; I felt like I was able to reach out more to the teens by giving them personal experiences that could show how much the camp and the Teen Leaders Club does for people.
Bed Time
After an awesome night, it is time for us all to go to bed. However, it was so cold that I do not think anyone got any sleep.
Cold Morning
And Cheerios
Everybody laughed at me for packing Cheerios, but in the morning they were all wanting a bowl.
All that Work
After all the trouble we had with the fire, this is all that is left Sunday morning.
Some Fun and Games - The Animal Cracker Challenge
The Animal Cracker Challege
The Surprise Entertainment
Trevor Spinning Fire